Joe Wieskamp Has Probably Played His Final Game For Iowa

Iowa guard Joe Wieskamp first went through the evaluation process of the NBA Draft after his freshman season when he started all 35 games and averaged more than 11 points per game. Two years ago, Hawkeye fans weren't too worried he wouldn't return. Now, with his junior season completed, Wieskamp has announced that he's preparing to go through the process again. This time, Iowa fans should be very concerned that they could lose the guy who's probably their best returning player.

During the just-completed 2020-21 season, Wieskamp showed just how important aggressiveness is to his game. Especially during the second half of the season, he was brilliant at times. If not for the ankle injury that slowed him toward the end of the year, Joe was on a huge upward trajectory. It's also no accident that as Wieskamp's intensity on the defensive end improved, so did Iowa's. In a word, Wieskamp was and is key to Iowa's success.

Wieskamp's numbers have improved each year. During his sophomore season, he averaged just over 14 points per game and nearly 15 points per contest this year. He also averaged over 6.6 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 campaign.

During a Zoom press conference yesterday, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery talked about Wieskamp's prospects in the July 29 NBA Draft:

I think he will get drafted, and I think he’ll get a Combine invite.

The NBA Combine begins June 21 and Hawk Central reports a player can remove their name from the draft list and stay in college, through July 19.

I wish Joe, a Muscatine native, the very best with his decision. I'd love to see him play another season in the black and gold, but I also realize that may not be the best choice for him.